Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: What It Is And Recommendations To Avoid It
The arrival of a newborn into the world is always a reason for joy in a family. Caring for him and worrying about his health will be topics that will invade the parents’ minds during the first months and years of life.
However, there is a terrible condition that can cause the baby to suddenly die: sudden infant death syndrome In this article we will talk about it, what can cause it and provide some guidelines to avoid it.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as sudden infant death , death in the cradle or white death; It is a strange event in which a child under one year old and apparently healthy dies suddenly and without apparent explanation.
Usually when this happens Parents often find the newborn dead hours after putting it to bed and without apparent signs of having suffered any suffering. Since the death is sudden and without known causes, there is no previous symptomatology that can alert parents to the risk of this syndrome.
Finally, an essential condition for these cases to be considered sudden infant death syndrome is that, after performing a complete autopsy and investigation, The causes of the baby’s death remain unexplained
The steps to follow to carry out a correct evaluation of the case are: performing a complete autopsy, an examination and recognition of the place of death and its circumstances, and an exhaustive review of the medical history of the newborn and his or her family.
Regarding the incidence of this strange condition, most cases, specifically around 90%, usually occur between 2 and 6 months of age of the baby ; The number of deaths increased considerably in the winter months.
Although sudden infant death syndrome is responsible for far fewer deaths than those caused by congenital abnormalities and disorders associated with premature birth, it is considered the leading cause of death in babies one month of age or older. without any type of condition.
Statistics reflect that in the European Union this syndrome occurs with a probability of between 1.5 and 2 deaths per 1,000. Likewise, if we focus only on Spain, this It is the cause of between 0.15 and 0.23 deaths per 1,000 live births
Causes and risk factors
As mentioned above, the exact causes that cause the appearance of sudden infant death syndrome are still not known exactly. However, recently some lines of research have been opened that relate this syndrome to various causes.
The two theories that are receiving the most support from the medical community are those that They link the death of the baby to problems in sleep stimulation that is, the baby could suffer some type of alteration in the ability to wake up.
The second hypothesis theorizes that the baby’s organism would not have the ability to detect the existence of a build-up of carbon dioxide levels in the blood failure in this reflex would be what would lead the baby to death.
However, the number of baby deaths due to sudden infant death syndrome has decreased considerably in recent years. Specifically, since health personnel have emphasized the recommendations of putting the baby to sleep on his back and never on his stomach. So sleeping posture and easier breathing could also be related.
Risk factor’s
Among the risk factors associated with sudden infant death syndrome we find the following.
Although it is clearly determined that all of these previous risk factors pose a threat to the child’s life, the level of influence of each one on the appearance of the syndrome is not yet fully determined.
Tips for prevention
Given the complexity of this syndrome and the lack of knowledge that still exists about it, it is essential that parents of newborns take into account a series of care guidelines in order to prevent, in every possible way, this illness from appearing. .
In order to offer support for parents, The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a series of recommendations :
1. Always put the baby to sleep on his back
Both at bedtime at night and naps during the day the baby should sleep lying on his back
2. Put the baby to sleep on a firm surface
It is necessary to put the baby to sleep on a firm and stable surface, such as a crib or a bed prepared for babies and, for example, never on a couch
3. Put babies to sleep in the same room as their parents
In this way, the child’s attention, care and feeding tasks will be facilitated.
The baby must rest a crib mattress that is stable, firm, tight and without any loose pieces or fabric The use of cushions, sheets or duvets should also be avoided.
5. Control the room temperature
Check that the temperature of the rooms is not excessively high. The ideal temperature is one at which an adult is comfortable wearing light clothing Likewise, it must be checked that the baby is not hot to the touch.
6. Use pacifiers or bottles before bed
It is hypothesized that the use of pacifiers or bottles favors the opening of the airways, as well as preventing the baby from falling into a deep sleep.
7. Do not smoke near the baby
Is essential keep the baby free from the effect of tobacco smoke Therefore, smoking near the baby or in any of the rooms in which the baby remains is absolutely contraindicated.
8. Avoid alcohol and drug consumption
Although this point seems obvious, it is necessary to remember that any type of substance consumption during or after pregnancy can pose a great risk to the health of the baby.
9. Breastfeeding
It has been shown that carrying out breastfeeding habits can reduce infections that affect the respiratory tract which can influence the appearance of this syndrome.
